Catholics often spend the 40 days of Lent recharging their devotional life by attending daily Mass or reading Scripture.
This year, Catholics can also boost their knowledge of the faith by attending the 15th annual Salesianum Adult Christian Religious Education Day [SACRED], Feb. 28.
The day includes 14 religious education workshops in the morning and 15 sessions in the afternoon.
The sessions, in English and, for the first time, three workshops in Spanish, offer an array of subjects, such as “Practical Prayers for Busy People,” “Christ and the Mysteries of Good and Evil,” and “Ten Moments of Faith in Church History,” that can enrich Catholics’ faith knowledge and lives.
Tom Vresics, the Salesianum theology teacher who started SACRED in 2001, has said that in addition to providing faith insights, the workshops offer parents ways to talk to their kids about Catholicism.
“We have some parents, catechists and deacons who come every year,” Vresics said. It’s a way for parents to “witness to their children that Christian formation is valuable, enjoyable and lifelong.”
Vresics also noted that catechists and deacons who attend SACRED can receive diocesan credit for the day.
Last year, Holy Family Parish in Newark received SACRED’s New Evangelization Award for having the most attendees.
Workshops in Spanish on Feb. 28 will include one on “Discovering Salesian Spirituality” given by Sister Lourdes McLaughlin, and others on the life of St. Francis de Sales and Salesian prayer and liturgy.
Among the many presentations, Salesianum teacher Thomas Cleary will present a session on “Salesian Parenting,” and Stephen P. Minicucci, head of Sallies’ religion department, will answer the question “Is Pope Francis a Socialist?” He will also present a session on “Catholic Teaching on Immigration.”
Oblate Father Michael Connolly will teach about the “Infancy Narratives of Matthew and Luke.”
The day starts for early arrivals with breakfast and coffee available in the school’s dining center at 8 a.m. The welcome begins at 9 a.m. and the first workshop sessions start at 9:45. There will be a hot lunch at 11:45. Afternoon sessions go from 1-3 p.m.
The sacrament of reconciliation will be available for attendees from 3:15-3:55 p.m. A “Sunday” Mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m.
Registration for SACRED is $35 before Jan. 31 and $40 beginning Feb. 1.
Participants can register online at sacred.salesianum.org.
If weather cancels the Feb. 28 SACRED, the snow date will be March 7.
